A.R.E. Blog

The World of the Intuitive Heart
By Henry Reed

When the nurse passed the patient’s room, he sensed something amiss. He turned around, examined the computer readouts—all’s fine. Except he didn’t believe it. He called the doctor. When he explained to the doctor his misgivings, she replied, “Well, nurse, you know we can’t go by hunches, we must have facts!”

And so that could be the end of the story. So much for being intuitive, if you can’t work intuitively with others. What if the story took a different turn?

After the nurse expresses his misgivings about the patient being in trouble in spite of what the computer says, the doctor says, “let’s each tune in to this patient and see what we get!”
After a moment, she says to the nurse, “now what was it like that you sensed?” And the nurse replies, “… it was a kind of up/down, on/off, soft/loud, modulating feeling and as if it was running itself down…”

The doctor notes, “Hmm... interesting, because what came to my mind, was like a rocking sensation, the back and forth of a pendulum, but it was getting slower and slower… time running out…. What does that suggest to you?” She turned to the nurse, expecting an answer.

The nurse was smiling. He now realized the answer, suggested in the similarity among their images, and noted that the doctor was smiling also.

“Exactly!” responded the doctor, who knew what measures to take to intercept this patient’s decline, now that she and the nurse’s combined intuition had stimulated the needed diagnosis.

Just imagine, a way for us to share important intuitions with one another, to better help us use this faculty to guide us into the future. It’s one thing to learn how to be aware of our own personal intuitive promptings. But what about acting upon our hunches? Often we don’t act, because we feel our intuition lacks “credentials.” That’s why it is so important that we learn how to be intuitive together! That is, it is time to free intuition from the closet of personal, subjective experiences and introduce it to the coming world of shared, consensual intuition! As our general paradigms evolve from “identity” to “relationship,” the experience of sharing intuitions to develop even greater potential for cooperation and innovation will become more and more critical to our well-being and survival.

When I was first invited by the A.R.E. to develop a psychic development program that expressed the idealism in the Cayce material, I realized that “Be Your Own Psychic!” was his essential innovation, as he turned our attention away from admiring folks with “the gift,” to working to develop the gift within. As I worked for more than 20 years researching and developing exercises and intuitive experiments to present at the A.R.E.’s annual “Edgar Cayce Legacy” psychic development conference, I came to realize that his true “legacy” is that we can be intuitive together, that intuition is capable of consensual validation. Intuition can be as objectively “real” as stuff we sense externally and can agree about; it just requires looking in a different way, for when hearts are joined, no words will do.

The Edgar Cayce Institute for Intuitive Studies was founded with the mission “to create a socially recognized, valued and applied spiritual science of intuition following the inspiration of the life and work of Edgar Cayce.” While Mr. Cayce’s innovation was be your own psychic, his ongoing legacy is that we can function intuitively together to improve life on this planet and to accomplish our spiritual mission as souls.

*Proceeds from The Intuitive Heart Discovery Group and the Edgar Cayce Institute for Intuitive Studies go to support the work of Edgar Cayce.

LOOKING FOR A LIGHTHOUSE
By Susan Luscomb

Last weekend, I stood before a throng of long-time A.R.E. members at a conference in Massachusetts alongside John Van Auken, speaking about the Cayce Work. As usual, I was virtually the “youngest” A.R.E. member in the room. Just a short time before (in A.R.E. time), I had known nothing of Edgar Cayce, and rarely came to Virginia Beach, Va., as I was too busy with my estate planning law practice. What happened? What led me to change career paths? More importantly, how did I end up in the enviable position of traveling with Charles Thomas Cayce, Kevin Todeschi, and John Van Auken, A.R.E.’s best and brightest, when I was so new to the Cayce work? What could I possibly offer to folks who have been members since I was in college?

Like many A.R.E. members, I have been a life-long spiritual seeker. My path began in the church, but after many years teaching Bible study, reading voraciously on my own, and even working with a personal spiritual advisor, I was still wandering. In my search for personal spiritual growth, I always had my eye out for a beacon I could look toward as a destination. I thought perhaps studying theology would help me find the answers that had thus far eluded me and left the puzzle of my “beliefs” incomplete with pieces I couldn’t find and tenets I couldn’t wholeheartedly embrace. It might also launch me in a new direction that I intuitively knew I was intended to take and had sought for years; one that would take me away from law practice, but toward what? I had told friends I was still interested in the law, but more interested in the law of a “higher power.” So, I started a seminary program in Richmond, Va., while still practicing law: the Masters in Divinity degree was to serve as my lighthouse.

I was on the verge of stepping up the pace of my studies when a friend said one sentence to me that changed everything. She had been a close friend from church for over 10 years, someone I respected tremendously for her faith both in words and in action. What she said to me was this: “You’ll not find what you’re looking for there, but I believe I know where you will find it.” She invited me to a conference at A.R.E. Headquarters, asked me to keep an open mind, and brought me to hear John Van Auken speak. It was immediately obvious to me that she was right. That conference was a definite turning point in my life.

Charles Thomas Cayce speaking at the A.R.E.

Over the course of the next six months, I read non-stop about all things Cayce, attended conferences, and began accumulating those missing puzzle pieces. Surprisingly, what I was learning didn’t supplant my Christian teachings—if anything, it clarified the life and role of Christ, strengthened my basic beliefs, opened my mind, and brought meaning to the Bible in ways I had never expected. It was, in a word, enlightening. It simply made sense, it felt right and true.

I’ve learned a lot in a short period of time, but I realize I have far to go. That’s okay for now. I continue to grow—thanks to members around the country that I have the good fortune to meet and to my fellow staff—now my path is one of spiritual growth and understanding. One important lesson I’ve learned is the truth of the Scripture quoted above from Psalms. I had spent much of my adult life searching for a beacon, that lighthouse shining at my ultimate destination, showing me exactly where I was supposed to go, rather than paying attention to the lamp at my feet taking me to the next step on the path, trusting that, step by step, my life purpose would be revealed to me, in God’s time, not mine. Along the way, I hope to be a channel of blessings, now, today, to those that I contact in every way, and I hope to help A.R.E. to enable others to do the same through its life-changing work.

Susan Luscomb, J.D., brings over thirty years of legal practice, including speaking, writing, and teaching as an Adjunct Professor at the Law School at William & Mary, to her position as A.R.E.’s Senior Development Officer. Until 2011, Susan was an estate planning attorney practicing in Williamsburg, Va., with significant experience in real estate, family law, and litigation. She is now using her estate planning experience for the benefit of A.R.E. and its members, and she is uniquely positioned to offer guidance about a wide variety of estate planning and related issues, including charitable and gift planning. You can contact Susan at Susan.Luscomb@edgarcayce.org.

Making the Best DecisionBy John Van Auken

Most of us have a tendency to get into a “thinking meditation,” and feel that our minds see more clearly—and to a degree they do. But the greater result is achieved by clearing our minds. Cayce said: “remove the earthly portions and the personality” and attuning or connecting our deeper soul-self to the Infinite, Universal Mind of God. Then, Cayce guided us to avoid the tendency to tell God how best to do this, but rather become completely receptive to the Mind of God, allowing the guidance to come in what Elijah called “the still, small voice.” (1Kings 19:12) Decisions are best made after we have consciously connected with the Universal Consciousness and the Creative Forces (as Cayce termed them) or God through meditation. Then, once connected, allow God to guide. As Jesus taught us, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:8)

Now it is possible, even likely, that God’s guidance will come to us later, after meditative attunement, during sleep, when it is even easier than meditation for the Infinite to commune with the finite—as Elihu said in the Book of Job: “For God speaks once, yes twice, yet man perceives it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumbering upon the bed; then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction.” (Job 33:14-16)

Another factor in decision-making is the need for cooperation between the inner self and the outer self. I’ve often shown this in my Egyptian slides where the ruler of Upper Egypt or the Upper Self and the ruler of Lower Egypt or the Lower Self unite in a cooperative manner to rule the whole of the nation—symbolizing the cooperation between these two portions of our being, and likely a carryover from Cayce’s incarnation as the Egyptian High Priest Ra-Ta.

Here’s how the readings teach this: First we sit down with our outer self and our intellect and rational mind; we write down the issue at hand and all the options that we see available to us, then we identify the one that appears to be the best option. After we’ve done this outer work, we then take this option into our inner self through meditation or reflection and “feel” our inner self’s comfort or discomfort with this option. The readings then say that if discomfort is the feeling then you need to rethink your decision or consider more options. This method is closely associated with Cayce’s many teachings about setting an IDEAL against which you can measure all your options, selecting the one that best harmonizes with or supports your ideal.

Another aspect of decision-making in the Cayce readings was given to Edwin Blumenthal (number 137 in the Readings) when he asked Cayce how he could put his finances in order so that he could devote his life to psychic development The answer indicated that the greater development comes from using one’s intuition and psychic abilities to solve one’s financial or any material needs. In this way we merge the outer self and its needs with the inner self and its higher abilities to perceive from a truer level of consciousness.

(Q) How can he [137] put his finances in such a condition as to permit him to concentrate to his greatest possibility on his psychic development? (A) Be not dismayed, for the development in psychic forces must manifest in and through the present conditions, and conditions physical, financial, must of necessity be one and a part of the development. As is given in this: In whatsoever state one finds (as he has found himself) oneself, make self content; not satisfied, but content, ever working toward that oneness of mind (of body, of will, with the development), or universal, or psychic forces. Do not war against these conditions. Make of conditions the stepping-stones to the development necessary to meet the daily needs in physical, in mental, in financial. (Reading 137-7)

In reading 1602-3 Cayce actually predicts that in this coming New Age we will have better and clearer awareness of and use of our interconnectedness with the Universal Consciousness and the Creative Forces, even the forces of Nature, such as the weather. Image being consciously in sync with the forces of the Cosmos and this planet—how different would our lives would be.

These concepts have been most helpful to me in my life. Sometimes I received a direct and clear answer while in meditation—and it was like a “knowing” that just came to me out of the blue! But as soon as I got it, I knew it was right. At other times I received nothing in the meditation but later the guidance came in a dream or a series of dreams. And sometimes, days went by until I felt that “knowing,” and knew the best decision. All of this is a part of our journey through soul growth and expanding our consciousness. It’s a marvelous journey that ultimate leads to enlightenment and that peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)

10,500 BCE Era - The Celestial Blueprint
By Donald Carroll

In his trance state when Edgar Cayce was asked when the Great Pyramid of Egypt was built, he stated that its construction was from 10,490 to 10,390 BCE (reading 5748-6). I have written earlier about the stars in the sky during this ancient time frame (see blog article “The Stars Above, the Great Pyramid Below: 10,400 BCE, 12/16/11), but there is more… much more. The previous article had noted that the stellar asterism that we today call “the summer triangle” were circumpolar stars at this ancient time. This pyramid of stars could have been their north guide. The ancient Egyptians saw these as the “imperishable” stars, the stars that never set as they never fell below the horizon. According to Egyptian mythology, this is the place in the sky where the Ba (the personality) and the Ka (the life force) soul parts would, once united, go to dwell as immortal brilliant spirits called akhus or khus.

This time period around 10,500 BCE has drawn the attention of such researchers and writers as Adrian Gilbert, Robert Bauval, and Graham Hancock, all of whom have written about aspects of this celestial landscape and how it fits this olden time period. Their research suggests an alignment of the pyramids of the Giza plateau with the constellation Orion/Osiris. It also indicates that during this time the constellation Leo rose due east out of the horizon to meet and greet its counterpart on earth in the sphinx, which faces due east. Dr. Robert Schoch, a geologist and a geophysicist, has examined the Sphinx and writes that the Sphinx and its surrounding area date to at least 5,000 to 7,000 BCE, if not earlier. This is at least 2,500 years earlier than the date given to it by Egyptologists. Dr. Schoch has also written about evidence that an advanced lost civilization from this 10,500 BCE time period may have been destroyed, possibly from solar cataclysmic events.

I have discovered even more evidence that makes the celestial sphere at this 10,500 BCE period even more ideal and unique for the construction of the Great Pyramid and a Golden Age of ancient Egypt called Zep Tepi (the First Time).

The northern triangle of stars has already been noted, but they were not the only significant triangle of stars of that time framing the pyramid. In the far south of the sky was what we call today the Winter Triangle or Great Southern Triangle, another asterism of stars. This triangle consisted of Betelguese (Orion’s shoulder), Procyon, and Siruis. So, at this 10,500 BCE era, there was a far northern triangle and a far southern triangle of stars in the sky that are linked together by the Milky Way, which runs through both. These two triangles of stars were not only connected by the Milky Way, they mirrored each other in the ratios of degrees between the stars in each triangle. It was a ratio of 1-2-3, for both!

In simplest terms this means if you put a stick in the ground and sighted along it either due north or due south, then marked the spot on the stick that each of these two stellar triangles individual stars contacted the stick as they rotated past it, the ratio between these marks would be 1-2-3. These events and alignments only happen during this era.

Cybersky5 star map 10,440 BCE showing North and South triangles and Leo crossing from the EastLarger image >>

For the Egyptians this would have had significance in multiple ways. Pyramids are considered to be symbolic mountains, places where heaven and earth could come together. The Egyptian hieroglyph for mountain is “Djew,” which also represented the two cosmic peaks that supported the sky and were guarded by lion deities. The Djew hieroglyph was closely associated to the hieroglyph “Akhet,” meaning the “horizon.” Here the sun disk was put between the two cosmic peaks and during its east-to-west journey was also guarded by these lion deities. These hieroglyphs certainly seem to be describing the events in the sky. At this distinctive time, there is the constellation of Leo rising due east and traveling west across the sky, as does the sun, and during this same period you have cosmic triangle mountains, north and south, acting as pillars for the sky, connected by the Milky Way. Just as it is described by the hieroglyphs.

Djew (Mountain)

Akhet (Horizon)

These connected triangles are also an excellent representation of the pre-dynastic Egyptian serpent god, Nehebkau, who was sometimes represented as a snake with a head at each end. He linked together the kas and the bas, mentioned earlier, of the Egyptian soul. Nehebkau gave the people their true names and fed them with the milk of light, which was perhaps representative of the Milky Way. There is even more occurring in the sky that completes this cosmic tableau. It involves the zenith of the sky, the zenith being the point directly over one’s head or over an object on earth such as the Great Pyramid. The line that can be drawn from the Great Pyramid into the heavens is a third axis to join the north and south axis of the stellar triangles and the east-west axis of the constellation Leo’s journey.

During this ancient period, the galactic center, the thick bulge of the Milky Way, would have been directly overhead. By the zenith and next to this would be the starry asterism called the “Fish Hook,” the tail of the Scorpio constellation. This “fish hook” looks just like the Egyptian “Heqa” staff or shepherds crook of the pharaohs. This staff is also symbolic of the Kundalini forces. This shape is also the same shape of the Hebrew letter “lamed,” the 12th letter of the Hebrew alphabet; considered the center of the alphabet, it is the tallest letter, sometimes called “the heart of knowledge.” Lamed literally translates as ox goad, like a shepherds staff, and is drawn the same way. It later was drawn looking more like an upright cobra, which is fitting as well in its symbolism. Lamed, as a numerical value, is translated as the number thirty.

Further pursuing this zenith hook linked to the letter Lamed yields astounding results. The fact that the letter lamed also represents the number 30 directly above the Great Pyramid is very significant itself. Researchers have shown that the dimensions incorporated into the Great Pyramid represent 30 seconds of equatorial latitude and 30 seconds of longitude. Further the Great Pyramid is considered by many to be in the center of the land masses and is located at N 30 degree latitude and East 30 degrees longitude (actually 31 degrees E).

If you determine the height and width of the Great Pyramid by the unit of measure the Cayce readings state was used in its construction, that of 27.5 inch cubit, your result is 210 cubits for its height and 330 cubits for in width. The ratio of its height over its width gives you a result of 7/11. Keeping in mind the importance of the number 30 discussed here, the height equals 7 x 30 (210) and the width equals 11 x 30 (330).

What is created here is an amazing three-dimensional axis; north to south, east to west and up and down. This is an axis mundi depicting center of the earth and galaxy, in this case also a center of knowledge, where heaven and Earth meet.

Axis mundi

I think in an absolutely stunning design, the dates of construction given in the Cayce readings for the Great Pyramid have given us a time when the sky represents it and a philosophy towards perfection ideally. This is truly a celestial blueprint.

Donald B. Carroll spent his career working in Fire & Rescue, as a district chief, academy
instructor, and paramedic. During those 30 years, he raised a family and pursued the meaning
of life through extended study into the Cayce readings and other spiritual, scientific, and
philosophical materials. Today, he is a regular speaker and writer of metaphysical topics from
Cayce to the Kundalini. He spent 10 years researching and writing his latest book, Sacred
Geometry and Spiritual Symbolism: The Blueprint for Creationwhich unifies spirit and science through
geometry and symbolism (available for pre-order at ARECatalog.com). He is also an international tour
leader for the nonprofit Association for Research and Enlightenment, visiting sites of a spiritual
nature across the globe.

The Life-Changing Impact of the Cayce Work By Denise E. Farris

The Edgar Cayce readings have been life changing to me for many years, and the A.R.E. conferences and A Search for God study group equally life changing. One of my favorite Cayce readings talked about our “soul's purpose,” suggesting that instead of changing the world by yourself overnight, it might be just as simple as brightening the corner of one person you meet, every day. I remember my smile and sense of relief at seeing a task so achievable, yet collectively with such a powerful impact! Which leads me to the present ...

I recently attended the “Mindfulness” seminar at A.R.E. headquarters in Virginia Beach, Va. It was a great conference! The concepts were so powerful that I made an entire set of outline notes from each presenter to remind myself of those key concepts going forward. Many people attending the conference asked the question: “What if my current career is not in line with my soul's purpose? Should I quit?” Your leaders replied: “What do YOU think?” They explained each person must answer that question privately. I thought back to my own experience and realized that over a 30 year period, the A.R.E. studies gradually, but totally, reshaped my external life to balance with my spiritual ideal. I didn't even recognize this until the conference!

In 1996, I left a large law firm to start my own law practice. Although I hated litigation, nearly 95% of my practice consisted of it. I suffered a lot of stress-induced illnesses in those early years! During ebbs and flows over 17 years, my private practice slowly morphed from a full litigation docket into a practice that is small, varied, mediation-driven, flexible, and profitable. I start each day with meditation and am also able to do short meditations throughout the day when needed. I am able to take Wednesdays off and devote that day to balancing, meditation, and massage. Interestingly, my billable hours and revenues did not slip even though you would expect them to. I'm also able to provide pro bono (donated legal services) to various 501 (c)3 charities, many of which are either equine therapy or developmental riding therapy programs, or rehabilitation homes for mentally or physically disabled adults, or young adults just released from foster care. Nearly 90% of my litigation cases settle early and without trial. In many instances, the respective parties go on to do business with each other again. In early March, I will complete my American Arbitration Association training as an AAA mediator/arbitrator and look forward to focusing more and more on that side of my practice. I continue to work with small business and minority and women business owners on local, state, and national economic development programs and legislative advocacy training. In other words, without my even realizing it, my “dread” job turned into my “dream job”! It was so incremental that I (apparently!) didn't even realize it was happening until the A.R.E. conference on Mindfulness. Thank you, A.R.E., for the conference and its “mindfulness” reminder to recognize and appreciate that what we pray for, we may have received without even realizing it!

The conference also generated some amazing synchronicity during and immediately following the conference. Another conference attendee, learning I did a lot of legislative training work, told me about a book written by Congressman Tim Ryan of Ohio called A Mindful Nation. I immediately purchased and read it on my return to Kansas City. The book's concepts, employing many of the Jon Kabat Zinn concepts taught at the conference, was just the source I was seeking for my desire to incrementally change the political dialogue. Two days after my return, I had to fly to meet with one of my expert witnesses, a commercial construction engineer that specializes in analyzing multi-million dollar commercial development claims. At dinner, I told him about recently completing the Mindfulness seminar in Virginia Beach and how impressed I was with the many concepts discussed. Imagine my surprise when he said he was studying materials by Lama Surya Das on the same issue. He couldn't believe I had just attended a conference with the Lama and was able to meet and talk to him in person!

My spiritual intention for 2013 is “deliberateness.” I can't wait to see where and what is delivered each day moving forward. I feel very blessed to have attended the conference, visited the headquarters after so many years, experienced a Cayce/Reilly® massage for the first time, and then been blessed by these multiple “what a coincidence” instances after the conference. I am so grateful to the A.R.E. organization and staff for continuing this important work.

When I think it has taken me nearly 30 years to write this letter to you, I imagine how many other nameless, quiet people have been touched by the lessons and by your work! Please remember how much good work goes on quietly to persons beyond your immediate knowledge. Keep it up, and “Thank you!”

Denise E. Farris, Esq.

Denise is the Managing Member of the Farris Law Firm, L.L.C. in Kansas City, Mo., practicing general business, commercial construction and equine law. The Firm enjoys Martindale Hubbell's highest “AV” rank for expertise and ethics, and Denise is listed among the national Preeminent Women Lawyers, the KC Business Journal's “Best of the Bar,” and Missouri/ Kansas “SuperLawyers.” Her practice emphasizes small business training, risk management, government contracting, and small and minority / women business economic development issues at the local, state and national levels. Denise is a frequent author and lecturer on the constitutional parameters of government affirmative action programs as well as unique government contracting vehicles. She has worked with the governments of Kansas City, Mo.; Unified Government Wyandotte County, States of Missouri and Kansas on each of their M/W/DBE programs over the past twenty years. In 2013, Denise launched “Perspectives Dispute Resolution, LLC,” a mediation and arbitration service utilizing the formal training and practice guidelines of the American Arbitration Association.

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